Greetings from ASI head office.

As we cross the halfway mark of this year’s tenure, I am pleased to share that many of the new initiatives outlined in my earlier editorial are well underway.

One of the most heartening moments of the year so far has been the historic celebration of the first-ever Surgeons Day and Surgeons Week across the country. It was truly inspiring to witness the overwhelming enthusiasm, unity, and participation from every corner of India.

I extend my deepest gratitude to each one of you for your remarkable commitment, energy, and dedication to our profession and to the Association. Together, we are shaping a brighter, more impactful future for ASI and the surgical community.

As you all know, the election process in any organization is a democratic process and is governed by the rules, regulations and provisions laid in the Constitution of that Organisation. In the ASI Elections 2024, the elections were held for the post of Vice President, Executive Committee members, Editors of Indian Journal of Surgery and officers of Social Security Scheme .With steady growth of membership with more than 24000 eligible members to vote and with 115 aspiring candidates contesting for 84 posts.

Few of the unsuccessful aspirants who contested for the elections in 2024, soon after the declaration of results, have mailed to all members, questioning the constitutional provisions, clauses in the election notification, casting shadow on the electoral process, integrity of the vendor and above all on the fairness of the election officers & the office of the President.

The then President & myself as the Chief Election officer have explained to the EC and GB during ASICON Agra, the efforts and security measures taken for the Elections in 2024.

1. A pre-electoral test was done to assess the strength & level of the security of software used for the election and its ability to withstand the intrusions .The test was done by a government approved agency and the software was cleared with high level of security.

2. An initial post-election forensic audit was done by M/S AQM at a cost of Rs 3 lakhs which has proved an intact data.

3. As the allegations were too maligning, an advanced forensic audit from multinational company was ordered and was done by M/S KPMG at a cost of 18 lacks which has proved again an intact data. The greatest revelation was the number of cyberattacks made during and after the elections by various “agencies” to hack and destroy the data and on an equal note the greatest inference was that the data was still intact and the software could not be damaged by the cyber-attacks.

4. With the proven attempts to sabotage the electoral process, ASI leadership has filed a complaint with the police cyber cell at Chennai, while the agency who conducted the elections has independently filed a similar complaint at Mumbai. We are closely watching the progress and helping the investigations.

5. It is worthy to mention that the then President has contacted all the 33 “claimed” signatories of the mail to enquire their part in the mail, their grievances etc. Many of them confessed that they were ignorant about the mail and in writing explained that they never gave consent to include their names in the said mail.

6. An internal disciplinary committee was formed under the constitutional provisions by the Executive Committee and all the 33 “claimed” signatories were again contacted and opportunities were given for all of them to explain and be heard. The committee has made its recommendations to exonerate a few but found few guilty with a male fide intent to reach the membership without exhausting the remedial measures provided in the constitution.

7. The recommendations of the disciplinary committee need to be placed before the EC and GB before it is made public and executed. As the President, I assure all the members to uphold the integrity of our esteemed organization.

ASI leadership is always committed for fair and transparent governance. Despite two forensic audit at a huge cost, clearing all doubts about the integrity of the election software and proving its ability to withstand cyberattacks, we have gone for an e-tender for selecting the vendor for election process. Among the interested applicants, the same agency, M/s e- Vote, had the best security system and their certifications by international agencies stood the highest and best.

I am compelled to write this in detail with the circulation of a mail by an aspiring candidate for the election in 2025, questioning the integrity of the system and campaigning for a change of vendor. There is also a demand and campaign for a constitutional amendment. The timing of circulation of the mail on the eve of declaring election will certainly be viewed as indiscipline and exposes it’s male fide intentions. The demand for constitutional amendment sadly exposes the complete ignorance of provisions in the Constitution.

As a member of a worthy organization, I request all of you to participate in this election to select the best to lead ASI in the next year. Assuring all of you a very fair and transparent election in the year 2025.

Looking forward to welcoming you all at ASICON 2025 at Kolkata.

Long live ASI

Dr. Pravin R. Suryawanshi

President, ASI

Categories ASI Updates, Updates